On this page
- Quick answer
- Quick facts
- Where Against the Darkness sits in the jewel family
- Properties and tooltip
- Overview: how Against the Darkness works
- Which modifiers and nodes are valid
- How to socket and preview
- Placement Matrix: four candidate sockets
- Build usage
- Alternatives
- Valuation: use, sell, or hold
- Risk and failure cost
- Community evidence
- Problems and direct answers
- Video walkthrough
- Media gallery
- Connected content
- Patch history
- Sources and verification
- Changelog
Quick Facts
- Item Type
- Jewel Enabler
- Rarity
- Unique
- Use Cases
- Radius · Attribute Stacking · Defence · Min Max
QUICK ANSWER
Quick answer
One roll always targets Small passives, the other always targets Notables; they are independent.
Radius is Medium in 0.5.4 (it was Large before 0.2.0).
Buy for a specific socket: the value depends entirely on which allocated nodes the Radius covers.
Attribute stacking, defensive layers (life/resist/ailment duration), Spirit, or extra damage types on builds that already path through a jewel socket.
Preview the socket's Radius in the passive tree and count allocated Small and Notable nodes before buying.
Assuming the tooltip value equals in-game value, chancing it, or placing it in a Sinister Socket.
QUICK FACTS
Quick facts
- Base type
- Time-Lost Diamond
- The unique variant of the Diamond (prismatic) Time-Lost base from the Trial of the Sekhemas.
- Limited to
- 1
- Only one Against the Darkness can be equipped at a time.
- Radius
- Medium (was Large before 0.2.0)
- Current 0.5.4 Radius is Medium; pre-0.2.0 copies were Large and are unchanged.
- Random modifiers
- 2 (Small + Notable)
- One line targets Small Passive Skills in Radius, the other targets Notable Passive Skills in Radius.
- Drop source
- Zarokh, the Temporal
- Drops from the Time-Lost Cache when a Trial of the Sekhemas run uses The Desperate Alliance relic; not Chance Orb compatible.
- Corrupted / chanceable
- No / No
- Dropped as an identifiable unique; it cannot be created with a Chance Orb.
ITEM FAMILY
Where Against the Darkness sits in the jewel family
Against the Darkness is one of the Diamond-base unique jewels. It shares the Time-Lost Radius system with the Sekhemas Time-Lost jewels but is a fixed unique with a random two-modifier roll.
Sekhemas
Time-Lost Ruby / Emerald / Sapphire
Random-affix radius jewelsRoll random-affix-style bonuses on nodes in Radius, biased by base color.
Different from Against the Darkness, which is a unique with a fixed two-modifier structure.
Unique Diamond
Against the Darkness
Two random radius modifiersUnique Time-Lost Diamond; one Small-targeted and one Notable-targeted random modifier.
This guide's subject.
Unique Diamond
From Nothing / Controlled Metamorphosis / The Adorned / Megalomaniac
Different Diamond mechanicsEach Diamond unique uses a different mechanic (remote keystone, ring radius, magic-jewel amp, random notables).
They are alternatives, not the same jewel.
PROPERTIES
Properties and tooltip
- Base type
- Time-Lost Diamond
- The prismatic Time-Lost base from the Trial of the Sekhemas.
- Limited to
- 1
- Only one can be equipped.
- Radius
- Medium
- Current 0.5.4 Radius; legacy copies before 0.2.0 were Large.
- Explicit - Small Passive
- Small Passive Skills in Radius also grant (random)
- One of: +8 Life, +8 Mana, +(2-4)% Fire/Cold/Lightning Res, +(2-3)% Chaos Res, (4-6)% reduced Ignite/Freeze/Shock duration.
- Explicit - Notable Passive
- Notable Passive Skills in Radius also grant (random)
- One of: +(8-12) Spirit, (2-3)% Str/Dex/Int, Gain (2-4)% of Damage as Extra Fire/Cold/Lightning, +1% max Fire/Cold/Lightning/Chaos Res.
- Acquisition
- Zarokh, the Temporal (Desperate Alliance)
- Drops from the Time-Lost Cache with The Desperate Alliance relic; cannot be chanced.
OVERVIEW
Overview: how Against the Darkness works
Against the Darkness is unique because every copy is different. When socketed, it randomly generates two modifiers: one 'Small Passive Skills in Radius also grant X' line and one 'Notable Passive Skills in Radius also grant Y' line, each drawn from a pool of roughly twenty possibilities grouped into Attributes, Maximum Life/Mana, Defences (ailment duration), Resistance, Damage (extra damage types), Spirit (skill-specific), Notable bonuses, and Small-passive bonuses.
The Small line only affects Small Passive nodes inside the Medium Radius; the Notable line only affects Notable nodes inside that Radius. By default these bonuses apply to nodes you have allocated. One rare modifier, 'Grants all bonuses of Unallocated Small Passive Skills in Radius', extends the Small bonuses to unallocated nodes too - that is the exception, not the rule.
The same modifier scores differently in different sockets because the Radius covers a different set of nodes. A '+8 to Maximum Life' line is worth more next to a dense cluster of allocated Small life nodes than next to a sparse area. This is why you must pick the socket for the roll, not the roll for a socket you already own.
Against the Darkness is not a normal Time-Lost jewel and not a Timeless jewel. It is a unique on the Time-Lost Diamond base, so it uses the Radius system but with a fixed unique two-modifier structure rather than random-affix-style rolls or Seed-driven conquest. It cannot be created with a Chance Orb and it does not go into a Sinister Socket.
Current versus legacy: in 0.2.0 the Radius changed from Large to Medium, the attribute modifiers on Notables dropped from 2-4% to 2-3%, and the Small life/mana lines changed from '1% increased Maximum Life/Mana' to flat '+8 to Maximum Life/Mana'. Existing pre-0.2.0 copies keep their old values and can even be made worse by a Divine Orb. Always check which generation you are buying.
- Two independent rolls: one Small-targeted, one Notable-targeted.
- Bonus applies to allocated nodes in the Medium Radius (one roll covers unallocated).
- Same modifier value depends on the socket's node coverage.
- Unique Time-Lost Diamond: not chanceable, not Sinister-compatible.
- Legacy (pre-0.2.0) copies are Large Radius and use older values.
VALID TARGET MATRIX
Which modifiers and nodes are valid
Against the Darkness modifiers are scoped to Small or Notable nodes inside the Radius. Nodes outside the Radius, and Sinister Sockets, are not valid targets.
| Target | Modifier target | Applies to | Needs allocation? | Valid in Sinister? | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Passive modifier (e.g. +8 Life) | Small nodes inside Radius | Yes, unless the unallocated-bonus roll | Not valid in Sinister Sockets | ||
| Notable modifier (e.g. +Str) | Notable nodes inside Radius | Yes, must be allocated | Not valid in Sinister Sockets | ||
| Grants unallocated bonuses (special roll) | All Small nodes in Radius | No allocation needed | Not valid in Sinister Sockets | ||
| Nodes outside the Radius | None | Out of scope | n/a | ||
| Sinister Socket placement | n/a | n/a | Against the Darkness only fits a normal socket |
USE FLOW
How to socket and preview
Identify the jewel and read both rolls
Identify Against the Darkness to reveal the Small-targeted and Notable-targeted modifiers and their values.
Pick the socket for the rolls
Open the passive tree and hover candidate sockets; the Medium Radius circle shows which Small and Notable nodes are covered.
Allocate the covered nodes
For the bonuses to count, allocate the Small and Notable nodes inside the Radius (except the special unallocated-bonus roll).
Socket and verify on the character sheet
Right-click the jewel into the allocated socket, then compare the character sheet before and after to confirm the gains.
Trade-search two mods
On the trade site set Item Category Jewel, Rarity Unique, Name 'Against the Darkness', then read each listing's two rolls; the official site cannot filter both mods at once, so verify per listing.
Character sheet shows only the base values of the nodes you allocated.
After socketing, every allocated Small/Notable node inside the Medium Radius also grants the jewel's rolled bonuses.
Confirm the gain by comparing the character sheet; a strong tooltip with no allocated nodes in Radius gives zero in-game value.
OUTCOME ANALYSIS
Placement Matrix: four candidate sockets
| Scenario | Benefit | Risk | Audience | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Socket near an attribute cluster (Str/Dex/Int nodes) | Notable attribute roll covers several allocated attribute nodes; Small roll adds life/mana | Low if on the natural path | Attribute stackers (Astramentis/HOWA) | Low Best socket for attribute-stacking; buy a roll with (2-3)% Attributes + a defensive Small. |
| Socket near a life / energy-shield wheel | Small '+8 Life' or '+8 Mana' covers many Small nodes; Notable Spirit or Res helps | Low to medium | Defensive builds | Low Strong for defence/min-max; pair a life Small roll with a resistance or Spirit Notable. |
| Socket near a resistance wheel | Small +(2-4)% elemental res covers resistance Small nodes | Medium (res wheels are often sparse) | Min-max defence | Medium Good when you lack resist suffixes; combine with an attribute or Spirit Notable. |
| Socket 4 points off your path | Only the jewel's direct coverage | High opportunity cost | Tight passive budgets | High Skip unless the roll is exceptional; the detour points usually buy more elsewhere. |
BUILD USAGE
Build usage
Against the Darkness pays off when a socket on your path covers nodes that match its two rolls. The personas below show the main ways to use it.
Attribute stacking
Attribute-stacking builds (Astramentis, Hand of Wisdom and Action) want the Notable (2-3)% Str/Dex/Int roll over a dense attribute cluster.
↗Defensive layers
A '+8 Life' Small roll plus a resistance or ailment-duration roll adds a layered defensive bonus on life/ES wheels.
Min-max Spirit and damage
The +(8-12) Spirit Notable roll and 'Gain X% of Damage as Extra Y' rolls are strong on caster and damage-focused trees.
Hybrid attribute + defence
Pair an attribute Notable with a life/mana Small roll for a balanced boost without a second socket.
ALTERNATIVES
Alternatives
If you need a remote Keystone rather than radius bonuses, From Nothing is the alternative; if you want ring-shaped remote allocation, Controlled Metamorphosis fits; if you stack corrupted Magic jewels, The Adorned is the amplifier; if you want Random Notables, Megalomaniac does that.
A basic Time-Lost jewel (Ruby/Emerald/Sapphire) gives random-affix radius bonuses more cheaply than Against the Darkness but without the unique's curated Small/Notable split and without the高价 of a perfect roll.
For pure attribute needs, a Rare jewel or gear suffixes may be cheaper than hunting a perfect Against the Darkness roll.
- From Nothing / Controlled Metamorphosis for remote allocation.
- The Adorned for corrupted Magic jewels; Megalomaniac for Notables.
- Basic Time-Lost or Rare jewels for cheaper radius bonuses.
USE / SELL / HOLD
Valuation: use, sell, or hold
Use when the covered nodes make the roll clearly better than a Rare jewel in the same socket.
RISK ANALYSIS
Risk and failure cost
| Scenario | Gain | Loss | Risk | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bought for the wrong socket | A rolled jewel | Rolls cover few or no allocated nodes on your tree | High | Preview the socket's Radius before buying; the roll is only worth its node coverage. |
| Low-value double roll | Two weak modifiers | Paid unique price for Rare-jewel-level value | Medium | Prefer one strong roll over two weak ones unless both match your nodes. |
| Divine Orb on an old copy | Possible reroll | Can make a pre-0.2.0 copy worse | Medium | Do not Divine legacy copies expecting improvement; values can drop. |
| Detour points to reach a socket | Radius coverage | Passive points that could buy a notable | Medium | Only take a far socket for an exceptional roll. |
COMMUNITY EVIDENCE
Community evidence
Why does the same modifier give me less than it gives my friend?
A player compared an identical Against the Darkness roll with a friend and saw different in-game values.
The roll is identical, but each socket's Medium Radius covers a different set of allocated nodes. The bonus is applied per covered node, so coverage, not the roll number, drives the difference.
The same modifier scores differently because the Radius covers different nodes; pick the socket for the roll.
Tooltip looks strong but my stats did not change after socketing
A player socketed Against the Darkness, saw a strong tooltip, but the character sheet was unchanged.
The Small and Notable bonuses apply only to nodes allocated inside the Radius. If those nodes are unallocated (and you lack the special unallocated-bonus roll), the jewel grants nothing in-game.
Allocate the Small and Notable nodes inside the Radius, then re-check the character sheet.
How do I search for a 3% Attribute + Defence roll?
A player asked how to filter two specific modifiers on the trade site.
The official trade site does not filter both Against the Darkness modifiers at once. Set Category Jewel, Rarity Unique, Name 'Against the Darkness', then read each listing's two rolls manually or use a third-party tool.
Search by name and verify both rolls per listing; there is no combined two-mod filter yet.
Can Against the Darkness share an area with From Nothing?
A player asked whether the two unique Diamonds can overlap effects in one region.
They are separate unique jewels in separate sockets. Each has its own Radius and mechanic; they do not conflict but also do not combine into one roll. Both are Limited to 1 individually.
They can coexist in different sockets but use independent Radii and rules.
PROBLEMS & DIRECT ANSWERS
Problems and direct answers
Tooltip is strong but character sheet did not change
Direct answer: The Small/Notable bonuses apply only to allocated nodes inside the Radius. Allocate those nodes, or the roll does nothing in-game.
- Preview the Radius, allocate the covered Small and Notable nodes, then compare the character sheet.
Same roll weaker than a friend's
Direct answer: Different sockets cover different nodes. The roll number is identical; node coverage differs.
- Compare the two sockets' Radii and count allocated nodes inside each.
Chance Orb did nothing
Direct answer: Against the Darkness is not in the Chance Orb unique pool; it drops from Zarokh with The Desperate Alliance relic.
- Farm the Trial of the Sekhemas or buy a specific roll on trade.
Divine Orb made my copy worse
Direct answer: A Divine Orb can reroll the variable values and may lower them, especially on pre-0.2.0 copies.
- Avoid Divining legacy copies unless you accept the downside.
video
Video walkthrough
Community creator
PoE 2 Jewels, Corruption and Against the Darkness
Live build walkthrough that covers jewel corruption, passive-tree specialisation and an Against the Darkness mention.
What to watch for: Shows how a radius jewel like Against the Darkness changes allocated nodes and where it fits in a real passive plan.
Open source ↗MEDIA GALLERY
Media gallery
Primary hero capture for the article card and header.
Shows which Small and Notable nodes are covered.
Attribute cluster, life wheel, resistance wheel, far detour.
Official site cannot filter both mods together.
The drop condition from Zarokh, the Temporal.
Confirms the 0.2.0 Radius change.
PATCH HISTORY
Patch history
Against the Darkness remains a Unique Time-Lost Diamond, Limited to 1, Medium Radius, with one Small-targeted and one Notable-targeted random modifier.
Adjusted unique drop access for socketable and unique jewel sources.
Radius changed from Large to Medium (existing items unaffected). Notable attribute mods dropped from 2-4% to 2-3%. Small life/mana lines changed from 1% increased to flat +8. Divine Orb can make existing copies worse.
Against the Darkness introduced as a Unique Time-Lost Diamond in Early Access.
SOURCES & VERIFICATION
Sources and verification
Path of Exile 2 0.5.4 patch notes and official item documentation.
PoE2Wiki and poe2db Against the Darkness data and modifier pool.
GameRant and Sportskeeda walkthroughs on obtaining and using Against the Darkness.
Reddit r/PathOfExile2 discussion of rolls, sockets and trade search.
Community video covering jewel corruption and an Against the Darkness mention.
changelog
Changelog
- Initial publication covering Against the Darkness in 0.5.4: modifier classification, Small vs Notable targeting, the Placement Matrix for four sockets, same-roll-different-socket behaviour, passive-tree preview, trade search for two mods, and the 0.2.0 legacy Radius change.
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